Disciplinary committee announces punishment for Lasith Malinga

Earlier today, news had it that Sri Lankan quick Lasith Malinga was set to face a disciplinary inquiry by Sri Lanka Cricket for his derogatory comments on the Sri Lankan sports minister that he made publicly in the media, thereby breaching his contract. A three-member panel was to conduct the inquiry after Malinga twice broke the rules by making public statements to the media without prior permission from the board’s chief executive.

As per the latest development, the panel has finalised the repercussions the pacer will face for breaching the code of conduct. He has been imposed a sentence of a 1 Year of which 6 months has been suspended. He will also be fined 50% of his next ODI match fee. Malinga has on many occasions in the past too been involved in controversies and is not very liked by members of the Sri Lankan board.

Slinger Lasith Malinga imposed a sentence of a 1 Year suspension, suspended by 6 months & a 50% fine of his next ODI match fee – SLC

— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) June 27, 2017

“Malinga has on two occasions since his return from the Champions Trophy acted in contravention of the terms of agreement which specifically bar him from making any statements to the media without the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer,” the board statement said before the panel met over the issue.

Malinga went too far with his words? 

Malinga came under the scanner when he compared the Lankan sports minister to a monkey in response to criticism that followed after their debacle in the Champions Trophy. The minister had earlier said that the country’s cricketers were too fat to perform well.

Malinga told a television channel that the sports minister knew nothing about cricket. “I don’t care about criticism from those who are simply warming chairs,” he said. “What does a monkey know about a parrot’s nesting hollow? This is like a monkey getting into a parrot’s nest and talking about it.”

For all that was said and done, the repercussions will now have to be followed.